Fruit-pitting machine



Dec. 9, 1930. G. FRovA FRUIT FITTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l B [lill 6fm/AMW' Jfjmtw PR01/A, glu/l/V dw Dec. 9, 1930. G, PROVA l,784347k FRUIT FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 26, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Det;` 9A, 1930. G PROVA 1,784,347

FRUIT FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 26, N27 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a/'oW/NN/ f/fom Patented Dec. 9, 1930 GIOVANNI .'FROVA, MILAN, ITALY FRUIT-FITTING MACHINE yApplication filed November 26, 1927, Serial No. 235,974,a11d in Italy October 17, 1925.

The present invention relates to fruit p-itting machines.

' It has t'ory its object a machine characterized in that it comprises means to receive and grasp the fruit to be pitted consisting'of two parallel and horizontally movable blocks provided in thesides facingone another with symmetric curved recesses and adapted to be moved away from one another for permitting-the fruits to tall between them, the

Fig.,3 is afront elevation ofthe machine, some partsheing omitted.

Fig. '4 is a view like to Fig. 1, but showing the fruit-grasping members in closed position, and f Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary sectional and plan views, respectively, of the grasping members. I Y V To the vertical sides 116 secured to the machine base 28 is `arranged a horizontally blocks then being moved toward one another movable carriage 126 sliding along 'guides to yieldingly grasp the fruits enclosed in said` 117 extending laterally from the sides 116. recesses, said blocks tinallyfbeing moved in On the vcarriage are slidably mounted, so closedl position to position the grasped fruits that they can be moved toward or separatedin front ot' vertically movable pit and stem removing means of the kind disclosed and broadly claimed in my Patent No. 1,698,477, dated January 8, 1929.

The machine. comprises also a horizontally reciprocating carriage on which said blocks are slidably arranged, said carriage adapted to be reciprocated along the machine traine together with the blocks when said blocks are in closed position. Further the machine comprises two horizontal plates slidably mounted on the machine trame beneath said.

carriage and adapted to be alternatively brought together for supporting the fruits enclosed in the recesses of said blocks and thereafter separated for permittingT the fruits to be pitted and the pits extracted to fall down in suitable collectors. Y

Other characteristic features `ofthe machine construction and of thevcontrolling means for the blocks, carriage and plates above referred to will be described hereafter.

The invention will be more readily understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: f

Fig.- 1 is a side view partially in section showing the fruit grasping member Vin open position, ready for starting work. A

. Fig. 2 is a plan View, some parts being omitted.

from each other, two elongated parallel bloc rs 118, the ends of which arey interconnected by pairs of connecting links 119.y these links beinfy of equal length and hinged to one another by pivots 120. The linl-s 119, as shown in Fig. 1 are connected with the blocks by means of cross roc s or pivots 142. Plun-gers 143 are mounted within bored recesses in the block to be reciprocated with respect thereto and on the projecting stem 144 ot each plunger 148 aspiral spring 145 is positioned one end of which bears against the collar 144 on the plunger and the other against a lange of the said bore in the block 118 with the object ot suiting the position of the plungers 143 to the size. of the fruits to be received and grasped.

The pivots 120 connect each pair of linlrs 119, said pivots projecting laterally through L-shaped slots 123 consisting ot vertical and horizontal port-ions formed in the machine sides 116. a

In the adjacentends of blocks 118 there are .formed large concave recesses 121 (Figs. 1 and 4) symmetrically arranged relatively to the lplungers'143. Said recesses 121 may extend downwardly 4to the underside of the blocks 118. At the upper edge of the recesses 121 (Fig` 3) semi-circular notches 122 are formed and extending from these notches are radial cuts or slots 100 (Fig. 2), so that 25 or kbring'backthe rods 129 and 130 for the when the two blocks 1718 are brought in contobe pitted. ,In the open position of the grasping bers, the portions of the pivots 120 projectingV tact with Veach other, openings of suitable diameter result in their top face and below each hole there extends a practically semispherical recess for reception of the fruits memfrom the links 119 into .the slots in the m'achine sides 116 lie between the prongs of of levers y124 fulcrumed on pins 125 projecting f from thesidesf116.-- The .opposite ends of the levers 124 rest on cams, eccentrics OrtheY likeactuated vfrom the machine main shaft (not shown) for the'purpose of impartinga Swinging mOveInent to said leversat'stated Ytime intervals. l

Under the-blocks 118 andcarriage- 126 twol plates 127 and 128 are arranged. These platesare guided on the machine vframe, on

4which they can slide'hori'zontal'ly.` vThe two plates: are actuated by rods 129 and130 rey spectively 'and by eccentrics, cams or the like which,at stated time intervals, push forward purposes thatwillbe set forth below.

- Asupport 131 secured to the sides1v16ior t 104 and' providing guideways for heads 108 ony the rods, upon which heads are pivotal connections forthe arms 37 carrying the pit' to thexmachinebase 28carries at therear of the` machine a vertically reciprocating car-'- riage36jfitt'ed with'bo'r'ed supports 111 for the y sliding sleeves 107 enclosing the rods andstalk extracting blades39. To the reciprocatingcarriage 36, a cross-bar 102 is se-` cured and tothis bar are connected by means ofset screws 101 the upper ends of the rods 104, which extend above the sleeves 107.V

Thefsleeves 107 are connected ytov a cross bar 1'13:As will be seen, the pit and stem extracting'devices'shown are of the same desi'gnvandV work practically in the same f mannery as'the `devices described and shown inmy aforesaid Patent No. 1,698,477.V The y carriage 36w and. cross-bar 113rare operated i 1n the following manner:

The carriage 36 is provided,`atthe rear,

of' the levers V'135 are actuated by eccentrics,

fcamsjor'thelike' l(not shown) for imparting an intermittent vertical reciprocating mo'- tion to fthe carriage 36, similar to the horizon- GMU i talnotioniimparted to thecarriag described 124 which7 as already fmentloned, had reandshown i'nxtheabove mentioned patent.

y' Pins g eirtend'ingfromy the lends, of the cross bar113; lare'engaged by theforked ends of'lever's 138 -"swinging' about ypins* 139 projecting from brackets `201k fixed to the sides 'of the said'su v*port V131.v YThe vopposite' endsofth-1vers 11 8 areactuatedV by eccenf or the likein purpose of swinging thel said levers and displacing the cross bars 113 so as to operate the arms 37 and the cutting blades 39, exactlyr as described and shown in the'copending application abovesaid.

They working of the machiney is as follows trics, cams or the like, (not shown) for'the Y stems extending upwardly and lying, prac-y n ytically,o'n the vertical center line of the 'tubes 11." Centeringdevices may be used to bring the Vstalks* into ther said yposition yas in the above mentioned patent. n

Directlyv after this the lever 124, by means of the fork 141, lowers the pivotpins (orA shapedV slots 123. This reduces the `angle formed by the link pairs 119 and consequently moves the blocks 118 toward each other until theyclose upon thefru'its, the stems yprojecting'tothe outside ',through' the holes 122; Now an 'eccentric kcam lor the.` like* (not shown) operating rod' 140, moves the carriage;

126- Yand 'the :closed blocks' 118 f forward u till these plates-occupy such a position thatthe centres of `the holes `122 ycoincide with vthe longitudinal center lines; of lthe pit and stem` of the "slot 123 in their lowered position.' At the end ofthe stroke the carriage 126 Vand the closed blocks 118 will stand still just the time requisite'for the cutting blades 39 Vtobe lowered into the fruits,'to grip'thepits, to rise again for'removin'g the pits"`A and stemsiny the manner ydescribed and v,shown in above sa1d copendlng applicatlon.V

As already stated the various*y partsof they pit and stemextracting devices areactuated at stated'time intervals, by eccentrics,cams

find1a8."v y Y H, i ,I Directlyafter the pits and stemshave been extracted, the carriage 126 isL moved back-,j wardffand restores the blocks 118 toy their formerl position..` When the pins'120 haveA completedj their backward stroke. they are again engaged by the forks1141ofthe levers leased themselves therefrom. As soon 'as the pins are again' 'engaged by the forks, the levers 124 are. swung so Vthat'fthe f forks, and

conjunction with the leversl35y rods) 120 inthe vertical portionof the angley las ilo

therewith also the pins 120, are/raised. As

a' result the angle comprised the 'links in each pair Yof links becomes greater, thev'blclxs1 kido 118l thus beingvseparated 'from each other. At this moment theVV eccentrics, cams or the like connected, toI the: rods 129k and 1301 come into action and drawtheserodsin the directionsQindicated by thearrows inFig. 2. rIhe said rodswill drawth'e plates 127,.' and 128 respectively, in the same direction.v As the carriage 1:26 essentially is a frame, the withdrawal-of the plates 127, and 128will establish a tree; passage between theV upper and lower portion of the machine rand will allow the pitted fruits as well as-theextracted pits and stemsto drop into underlying separaterecep-- tacles-(not shown).I The plates 127 and 128 are quickly restored' to their initial positions andthey are-ready for the'fstarting of another cycle. t

f It is obviously understood that the machine concerned aswell as its driving and motion transmittingparts 'admit ofany modilications that may be suggestedby experience or by persons skilled in the art. Such modilications; accordingly lie within the compass of the present invention. f

rEhus for eXample,-instead of various devices for receiving and: grasping fruitsand for gripping and extracting pits from fruits, the machine can be constructed1 with only one ot said two-devices. v i

`Wliile in the 'accompanyingdrawings I have shown a preferred embodimentofmymachine, my invention is'not limited thereto, and falling within' it embraces all modifications itsscope.

Moreover I aim especially to'be protected forthesingle devices for receivingand grasping fruits and' for gripping and extracting pits from lfruits, said devices being employed together or separately or in. conjunction withv other knovvndevices.`

Havingfnow particularly described and ascertained the nature of my'said invention and' in whatmanner the same is to be used, I declare that what I claimlis:

1. A'k fruit pitting machine comprising means for'i-nitially supporting fruit to be pittedmeans.for feeding'fruit in predetermined position to vsuch supporting means, means for grasping fruit on :such supporting means, and means for grasping andremo'vingi pits from the fruit, and 'means for reciprocating said fruit grasping means `between said fruit eeding means and said fruit pitting'mea-ns.

2; A fruitrpitting machine comprising, inA

combination, a carriage, slidable fruit'holding members movably mounted on. said carriage, means for jfeeding 'fruit into said holdin-g members with the stems of said fruit uppermost,'means tor4 grasping and removing the pits froml the fruitwithout removingfsubstantially anyipulp',fand means for reciprocating the carriage between said fruit feeding means and said'pitremovmg means.

3,. A fruit.- pitting machine comprising` means tor'r holding yfruit to' bepitted,`

means for feeding fruit to such holding means, `such holding means being movablyfar ranged.v Ona reciprocatingcarriage consti tuted by mechanically actuated recessed blocks and pitting mechanism comprising power actuated tongs adapted to radially cut into the fruit and/remove the pits therefrom without substantial mutilation o thefruit.

4. Ina fruit pitting machine, a framefprovided with side members each having slots extending at angles with respect to each other, a reciprocating lcarriagey mounted on said frame, sliding plates mounted on. said car-Y riage for initially'supporting fruit to be kpitted,recessed blocks slidably mounted on said carriage fon grasping kand holdingV the fruitl to be, pittedinitially supported bysaid plates, leversL connecting said recessed blocks, said levers being connected bypivot pins each eX-l tending intoV one oat said slots, and means 'for moving said pins insaidlslots to cansesaid recessed blocksv to open and close. 5. In a fruitv pitting machine,r` in: combinau` tion, fruit feedingmeans, pitting means, a carriage, recessed blocks slidably mountedon the carriage for receiving fruit to be pitted from said feeding means andforgrasping the i'ruit, slidable plates mounted beneath ,said carriage for initially ,supportingI the Jfruit, and meansffor reciprocating said carriage topnesentthe fruit to'said pitting means.4 p

6. In a truit pitting machine, in combinar tion, fruit` feeding means, pitting means, a

carriage, recessed blocks slidingly mounted-son thecarriage tor receiving fruit to be pitted from said feeding means,y slidable plates mounted beneath said carriage for initially supporting the fruit, means for movingsaidblocks into grasping engagement with ther fruit, and meanstor reciprocatingl said carriageto; present the fruit to sai-d pitting means 7. In fruit pitting machine, in combina.-y

tion, fruit eeding means,y pitting means, a carriage, recessed blocks slidingly mounted on :the carriage for receiving fruit to be `pitted from said feeding means, slid'able pla-tes.

mounted beneath said carriage for initially supporting the fritiapivoted links connecting saidl recessed blocks operable toy open and close the latter whereby the blocks, maybe moved into grasping engagfmient-y with the fruit, and, means f for reciprocating c said carmeans, means for periodically reciprocating said. carriage alongfthe machine frame,v means forfreciprecatmg said tri-nt hold-111gmeans lik() t together with said carriage andwith respect thereto,-r yand *means 'for i reciprocating said fruitsupporting means with the carriage. and

withfrespectthereto@y I Y,

v"93A @fruit pitting machine comprisin da Vsupporting machine frame, fruit feeding; means" associated therewith, a yreciprocating carriage arrangedon the machine frame, re-v clprocatingirnit holding means arranged on said carriage, reciprocatmg means for' snp-fV i porting thefruit'fed to' said fruit' holding' meanspmeanslfor periodically reciprocating e said carriage along the machine frame, means for reciprocating saidfrnit holdingmeans together with' y,said carriage and rwith respectth'ereto, and means for reciprocating said fruit'supporting means with-the carriage'and with respect thereto,tlie'reciprocation of said c fruit?v supporting means "being synchronized ywithfj reci roc'ationL of' said y.fruit holding me'anssot at they reciprocate together for a ortion of their movement and independently or another' portion of their movement.

10. A- fruit pittinglmachinecomprising a supporting machine j frame, v fruit feedmg` means,l a reciprocating carriage movable on the machine l frame, reciprocating fruit holding means movable with saidcarriage "and relatively theretov consisting of two trans# verse p'a'rallely arranged and symmetr'ically-j yrecessed blocks, and -`reciprocating fruit' snp- 1 yporting means slidably arranged beneath said blocks and carriage and radaptedto sup-y port the ffru'iti 'discharged by Vsaid -eedingf means between the recesses of saidblock's and operable to permit the fruit to be discharged from nsaid'holding means,`and a pittin mech' Y anism adapted tol operate on the'fruit whileA in'fsaid holding means. f v Y `11.v A: fruit pitting machine comprising a supporting machine vframe, a reciprocating carriage movable on the machineframe, pe-

riodically reciprocating fruit holding means means, pitting means, periodically reciproeating means for holding the fruitto be pit-v ted and 'to present same' to the pittingmeans movable lwith said carriage and relativelyv thereto comprising two transverse parallelly arranged and-'symmetrically vrecessed blocks, means fordelivering the `fruit between said fruit holdingl means,y and periodically recip:v

rocating fruit supporting `means slidingly arranged beneathy said' carriage and recessed blocks, comprising two slidable plates, and' means todisplace said plates periodically by moving'themaway from and toward each other; v

12. vA fruit pittingV machine comprising a supporting f machine frame, i vfruit holding comprising a *reciprocatingl carriage slidably arranged on the `machine frame *and4 two transverse parallel y.and symmetricallylre-k cessed rblockskmo'vable with said carriage and relatively thereto,- a pairof slidably arranged pleteel on4` thef same-- plane and lbeneath said blocks and carriage vrfor supporting the fruit to be' pitted, anda plurality of palrs of pivl oted links connecting said recessed blocks and operabletofopen and lclose said blocks.

1 3. A Yfruit pitting machine comprising a supporting V"machine--r fram'e, fruit lfeedlng means,bsa1d Vmachine frame including gside walls havingangle `shaped slots therein, 4a

periodically reciprocating vcarriage lmovable A Jon 'saidmachine frameya pair of periodical# ly reciprocating 4transverse'parallel and symi i vmetrically recessed blocksslidably arranged f on'said carriage Aadapted to'be positioned to hold in their-symmetricrecesses the fruitto be pitted, a pair of periodically reciprocatingl iny 'said- 1slots sok as -to r alternately i' close and pen said blocks when the pins slide ina potionof said slots andtto permit said blocks to be reciprocated .n in closed position `when the pins are in the other portion of said slots.

f 14. .A frnit pitting machine'comprising a walls having uangleshaped slots'vtherein, a' periodically reciprocating carriage movable on saidmachine frame,a pair of periodically reciprocatingv transverse parallel and symmetrically recessed blocks slidably arranged on'said carriage adapted tobe positioned to` hold in their symmetric recesses the fritto.

be pitted, means lcarried by'said lblocvvzks'to yieldingly hold, therfruit'iresting within the lsymmetric recesses when theblocks are inl closedposition, apairof periodically reciprocating plates arranged beneath said car-v riage andrecessed blocksa'dapted to support the fruit delivered bysaid fruit feeding means within the recesses'of said blocks, a

plurality of pairs of pivoted links connecting" said blocks, pivot-pins connecting each pair of links, each pin engaging one of said angle shaped slots in the sidewall ofthe machine frame, .and voperating meansv adapted to ldisplace said ,pinislinisad 'slots so as kto alter i nately close and `open saidk blocks when the pins slide-in a portion of'fsaid slots andto permit Vsaid blocks kto be reciprocated in closed position when the Vpins are in the other portion of said slots. j

15.]111 a fruit pitting'machine, the combi-V nation with gravity fruit feedingmeansand a vertically Aarranged *pitting means, of a horizontallyreciprocating carriage to carry fruitfrom said feeding means to said'pitting means, means arranged under saidcarriage to spport the fruit fedtheretqland means forlsupporting machine frame, fruit" feeding f means,` said machinezfframe including sidey len Y nb,

iso

displacing said supporting means after the pitting means has operated upon the fruit.

16. A fruit pitting machine as set out in claim l2 in Which the recessed blocks are provided With slots to permit the pitting means to enter the recesses in said blocks.

17. A fruit pitting machine as set out in claim l2 in Which the recessed blocks are provided with spring-pressed plungers adapted to yieldingly engage the fruit in the recesses in said blocks When the blocks move together to grasp the fruit.'

GIOVANNI FROVA. 

